Today | News | Books | Recipes Adventure | Science Fiction | Ghost stories | Poetry | Children | History Little Women; Or, Meg, Jo, Beth, and AmyThe Project Gutenberg eBook of Little Women; Or, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook. Title: Little Women; Or, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy Author: Louisa May Alcott Illustrator: Frank T. Merrill Release date: August 16, 2011 [eBook #37106] Most recently updated: September 24, 2025 Language: English Other information and formats: www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/37106 Credits: David Edwards, Ernest Schaal, Robert Homa, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team *** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LITTLE WOMEN; OR, MEG, JO, BETH, AND AMY *** [Illustration: LITTLE WOMEN MEG, JO, BETH, AND AMY LOUISA M. ALCOTT] LITTLE WOMEN. [Illustration: "They all drew to the fire, mother in the big chair, with Beth at her feet" (See page 9) FRONTISPIECE] LITTLE WOMEN OR Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy BY LOUISA M. ALCOTT AUTHOR OF "LITTLE MEN," "AN OLD-FASHIONED GIRL" "SPINNING-WHEEL STORIES," ETC. _With more than 200 illustrations by Frank T. Merrill and a picture of the Home of the Little Women by Edmund H. Garrett_ BOSTON LITTLE, BROWN, AND COMPANY Entered according to Act of Congress, in the years 1868 and 1869, by LOUISA M. ALCOTT, In the Clerk's office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts. _Copyright, 1880_, BY LOUISA M. ALCOTT. _Copyright, 1896_, BY JOHN S. P. ALCOTT. BOSTON ALFRED MUDGE & SON INC. PRINTERS [Illustration: Preface] "_Go then, my little Book, and show to all That entertain and bid thee welcome shall, What thou dost keep close shut up in thy breast; And wish what thou dost show them may be blest To them for good, may make them choose to be Pilgrims better, by far, than thee or me. Tell them of Mercy; she is one Who early hath her pilgrimage begun. Yea, let young damsels learn of her to prize The world which is to come, and so be wise; For little tripping maids may follow God Along the ways which saintly feet have trod._" Adapted from JOHN BUNYAN. [Illustration: Contents] Part First. CHAPTER I. PLAYING PILGRIMS II. A MERRY CHRISTMAS III. THE LAURENCE BOY IV. BURDENS V. BEING NEIGHBORLY VI. BETH FINDS THE PALACE BEAUTIFUL VII. AMY'S VALLEY OF HUMILIATION VIII. JO MEETS APOLLYON IX. MEG GOES TO VANITY FAIR X. THE P. C. AND P. O. XI. EXPERIMENTS XII. CAMP LAURENCE XIII. CASTLES IN THE AIR XIV. SECRETS XV. A TELEGRAM XVI. LETTERS XVII. LITTLE FAITHFUL XVIII. DARK DAYS XIX. AMY'S WILL XX. CONFIDENTIAL XXI. LAURIE MAKES MISCHIEF, AND JO MAKES PEACE XXII. PLEASANT MEADOWS XXIII. AUNT MARCH SETTLES THE QUESTION Part Second. XXIV. GOSSIP XXV. THE FIRST WEDDING XXVI. ARTISTIC ATTEMPTS XXVII. LITERARY LESSONS XXVIII. DOMESTIC EXPERIENCES XXIX. CALLS XXX. CONSEQUENCES XXXI. OUR FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT XXXII. TENDER TROUBLES XXXIII. JO'S JOURNAL XXXIV. A FRIEND XXXV. HEARTACHE XXXVI. BETH'S SECRET XXXVII. NEW IMPRESSIONS XXXVIII. ON THE SHELF XXXIX. LAZY LAURENCE XL. THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW XLI. LEARNING TO FORGET XLII. ALL ALONE XLIII. SURPRISES XLIV. MY LORD AND LADY XLV. DAISY AND DEMI XLVI. UNDER THE UMBRELLA XLVII. HARVEST TIME [Illustration: Tail-piece to Contents] [Illustration: List of illustrations.] [The Illustrations, designed by FRANK T. MERRILL, drawn, engraved, and printed under the supervision of GEORGE T. ANDREW.] PAGE They all drew to the fire, mother in the big chair, with Beth at her feet Preface Contents Tail-piece to Contents List of Illustrations Tail-piece to Illustrations Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents Beth put a pair of slippers down to warm I used to be so frightened when it was my turn to sit in the big chair Do it this way, clasp your hands so It was a cheerful, hopeful letter How you used to play Pilgrim's Progress No one but Beth could get much music out of the old piano At nine they stopped work and sung as usual Merry Christmas The procession set out Out came Meg with gray horse-hair hanging about her face A little figure in cloudy white The lovers kneeling to receive Don Pedro's blessing We talked over the fence Tail-piece Eating apples and crying over the "Heir of Redclyffe" Jo undertook to pinch the papered locks Mrs. Gardiner greeted them Face to face with the Laurence boy They sat down on the stairs Tell about the party The kitten stuck like a burr just out of reach Curling herself up in the big chair Reading that everlasting Belsham He took her by the ear! by the ear! Mr. Laurence hooked up a big fish Tail-piece Being neighborly Laurie opened the window Poll tweaked off his wig Putting his finger under her chin Please give these to your mother Tail-piece O sir, they do care very much Mr. Laurence often opened his study door She put both arms around his neck and kissed him The Cyclops Amy bore without flinching several tingling blows You do know her Girls, where are you going? I burnt it up Held Amy up by his arms and hockey Packing the go abroady trunk Meg's partner appeared Asked to be introduced I wouldn't, Meg Holding a hand of each, Mrs. March said, &c. Mr. Pickwick Jo threw open the door of the closet Jo spent the morning on the river Amy sat down to draw O Pip! O Pip! Miss Crocker made a wry face We'll work like bees Beth was post-mistress Amy capped the climax by putting a clothes-pin on her nose 151 Mr. Laurence waving his hat Now, Miss Jo, I'll settle you A very merry lunch it was He went prancing down a quiet street "Oh, rise," she said A stunning blow from the big Greek lexicon He sneezed The Portuguese walked the plank Will you give me a rose? Miss Kate put up her glass Ellen Tree Tail-piece Swinging to and fro in his hammock It was rather a pretty little picture Waved a brake before her face I see him bow and smile Tail-piece Jo was very busy Hurrah for Miss March Jo darted away Jo laid herself on the sofa and affected to read November is the most disagreeable month in the year One of them horrid telegraph things She came suddenly upon Mr. Brooke The man clipped Tail-piece Letters She rolled away I wind the clock Yours Respectful, Hannah Mullet Tail-piece It didn't stir, and I knew it was dead He sat down beside her What do you want now? Beth did have the fever Gently stroking her head as her mother used to do Amy's Will Polish up the spoons and the fat silver teapot On his back, with all his legs in the air |